The early winter breeze made an appearance in the academic area of IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN) as Smriti Irani inaugurated Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) on November 30, 2015. It was a remarkable moment for both students, and staff of IITGN as MHRD minister did more than just inaugurate a programme.

Photo: Gourav Shukla

Smriti Irani had a freewheeling chat with students at IITGN. She inquired about the washrooms in the girls’ hostels and joked about the mess food as well. When students told her about their long-standing demand for an overnight canteen, she took notes.

Photo: Gourav Shukla

Going back to GIAN, it is a bridge connecting Indian academician to global scientists, industrialists and academicians. The aim here is to garner the best of international and national education experience and infuse it into the Indian education system through a series of guest lectures. Till now, 201 courses have been approved under this scheme.

The inaugural meeting was hosted by Ms. Ankita Arora, a PhD student from IITGN. Prof Atul Dixit mesmerized everyone with his charming voice laying a devotional song before Sri Ganesh. Smt. Irani was accompanied with the state’s Education minister Sri Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Secretary of Higher Education Sri Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Director of IIT Kharagpur Dr. Partha Pratim Chakraborty, and Director of IITGN Dr. Sudhir Jain on the dais. The whole meeting was in sync with IIT Kharagpur through web telecast. The courses entitled, 3D digitalization of cultural heritage, and Orthopaedic Biomechanics: Implants and Biomaterials were launched simultaneously by Prof Marco Callieri who is from Italy at IITGN and Prof NicoVerdonschot who hails from Holland at IIT Kharagpur respectively.

For a student nothing is more valuable than gaining knowledge and ideally physical distance from an instructor should not be an obstacle in his or her way. “Not a single penny will be collected from any student who will participate in this course,” the HRD minister cleared this to all. The event got a fillip when the news that a new IIIT would be set up in Surat.

The general fun atmosphere carried on throughout the day and ended only at dinner. That was when Smriti Irani decided to break bread with the students over some light hearted gupshup. She told students that the aura at IITGN was captivating. She also appreciated that despite being a new IIT, it is doing a fine job. After a few photography sessions, a fun filled day came to an end.

Photo: Gourav Shukla

The whole campus was buzzing with various comments regarding the visit next day. “The best part of HRD minister’s visit was, in one single night all the major road constructions in the campus were complete.” said one student. That evening, the whole campus seemed perfect and shining with radiant beauty. Therefore, it is hoped that in the very beginning, HRD minister’s visit will definitely strengthen the institute’s future prospective.

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